Starting this summer, the Kirksville R-III began talks of implementing the district's first random drug testing program, tying it to participation in academic and athletic extracurricular activities.

The school board hosted an open forum in July and aired the tentative plan which called for about 15 students a month to be randomly tested from a pool of students. Enrollment in the testing pool was to be mandatory for 7th- through 12th-grade involvement in any Missouri State High School Activities Association sanctioned event, dancing and cheerleading.

The discussion was prompted by the board's Athletics Committee and the fact the majority of the district's conference foes had already implemented such a plan.

The decision

Just in time for the start of the fall semester, the school board voted unanimously to implement the drug testing program.

The testing is used strictly for disciplinary purposes, with a first offense resulting in a 30-day ban from activities, second offenses result in a 90-day ban while third offenses during an academic career result in a permanent ban. The tests screen for drugs including marijuana, methamphetamine as well as specific pharmaceuticals, cocaine and ecstasy. The tests do not specifically screen for synthetic drugs like K-2 or bath salts.

"This is a solid first step," Superintendent Patrick Williams said following the vote.

First results

The district underwent several rounds of testing during the fall semester, with no disciplinary action taken so far against any students.

The district reported about 550 students are currently enrolled in the program, about half of the potential students.

The district has been testing 10 students from the high school and five from the middle school about every month on a random, unannounced basis.

The confidential results are shared only with the student and their parents and are not turned over to law enforcement instead being used for in-school discipline.